We have previously discussed the advantages of coconut water. It has become quite popular since various celebrities are being featured using it. But it becomes even better with pomegranate juice added.
Pomegranate Coconut Water Ratios
By itself coconut water has a 2.5 to 1 ratio of potassium to sodium. This is far better than any of the popular sports electrolyte drinks. When you mix coconut water half and half with pomegranate juice, the ratio goes up to over 4 to 1. You are helping your daily ratio, and you are replenishing your body with a better balanced fluid.
Coconut water brands vary in their taste. Some people that love one brand hate another because of the difference in taste. Pomegranate juice helps by providing a more consistent taste.
Antioxidants
Pomegranate juice also has polyphenol antioxidants. The main antioxidants are in the group called ellagitannins, which have scavenged free radicals in the laboratory. This has made pomegranate juice popular in its own right.
However, it is difficult to know the significance of the finding. Blood levels of ellagitannins only reach very low levels. And whether it is active is doubtful. As of last year, there were 44 clinical trials registered with the NIH looking at the effects of pomegranate juice or pomegranate extract. A little more will be known when the reports are finished.
Intracellular Effects
But this knowledge will be a drop in the bucket in comparison to how much is known about the potassium to sodium ratio, and how the ratio affects cellular processes and hypertension. Most of these registered studies will not try to sort out the effect of the improved potassium sodium ratio from the antioxidant effect.
Remember, a higher potassium sodium ratio intracellularly increases the free radical scavenging just by itself. It will be very difficult to determine how much improvement is added by the polyphenols. It will take a great many more studies of antioxidants before we will know their role.
Still, the improvement of the potassium sodium ratio, and the change in taste of the coconut water, make pomegranate-coconut water a great combination no matter what the findings of the antioxidant studies. Enjoy the taste. And enjoy the knowledge that you are lowering your chances of hypertension, osteoporosis, cardiac disease and all the bad effects of those diseases.
